Family mourns teen killed in crash

Thursday

May 23, 2013 at 12:01 AM

STOCKTON - Loved ones gathered at a busy Stockton intersection Wednesday evening to share stories, shed tears and light candles in memory of Drew Underwood, a 17-year-old boy who died early Tuesday when his best friend crashed his car into a tree.

Jason Anderson

STOCKTON - Loved ones gathered at a busy Stockton intersection Wednesday evening to share stories, shed tears and light candles in memory of Drew Underwood, a 17-year-old boy who died early Tuesday when his best friend crashed his car into a tree.

Authorities said Wednesday they believe excessive speed and alcohol may have played a role in the deadly accident, which occurred shortly before 12:30 a.m. Tuesday on North Pershing Avenue. Underwood, an aspiring musician who attended Stagg High School and Jane Fredrick Continuation High School, was sitting in the back of a gray Honda that hit a tree with such force that the car was sheared in two, witnesses said.

Three other people were injured, including Underwood's girlfriend, Diana Di, a 21-year-old San Joaquin Delta College student who remained in a coma Wednesday with collapsed lungs and broken ribs, relatives said.

Officer Joseph Silva, a spokesman for the Stockton Police Department, said it could be days or weeks before authorities determine whether to charge the driver with a crime.

"The preliminary investigation indicates that speed may have been a factor and alcohol may have possibly been involved, but we're still waiting on a toxicology report," Silva said. "Our traffic investigators are going over the measurements and witness statements to determine exactly what happened."

Under California law, the driver of the vehicle could be charged with vehicular manslaughter if authorities determine he was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

"Alcohol is a substance that alters the way people perceive things," Silva said. "When you drink and drive and incorporate speeding on top of that, there can be both dangerous and deadly consequences."

Vath said her family just wants to know what caused the crash.

"All we want is the truth and closure for the families," she said. "If Diana could talk, she would tell us what happened."

Underwood's parents said they don't want to see criminal charges filed against the driver, whose name has not been released by authorities.

"They were best friends," said Dale Underwood, the victim's adoptive father. "If one was drinking, they were probably all drinking. They're just kids. They're going to make mistakes, but (the driver) didn't mean to do that."

Debbie Underwood agreed.

"We don't want to see anything happen to him," she said. "We love him like a son. This was just a tragic, tragic accident."